Background and Objectives: Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) training continues to face challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in gynaecological surgical training. This follow-up survey captures the ongoing effect on O&G trainees and highlights the future recovery plan considering the historical training gaps in benign gynaecology. Materials and Methods: an anonymised survey was emailed to all O&G trainees in Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS). Responses were collected over 6 weeks. Main Outcome Measures and Results: 53% of trainees responded. In total, 78% of trainees agreed that the pandemic had an ongoing negative effect on their physical and mental wellbeing respectively. Trainees felt the prior negative impact on obstetric training is improving, whilst 88% still experience a negative impact on their gynaecology surgical training despite the resumption of elective services in the National Health Service (NHS). 80% continue to feel the negative impact on their educational activities and 88% felt their overall training continues to be negatively impacted. 70% were positive that they would recover from this. Responses were representative of each training year. Interestingly, 95% of trainees had accepted the COVID vaccine. Conclusion: despite “restoration” of normal services, the negative impact on trainees particularly benign gynaecology surgical training continues. Addressing pre-pandemic training gaps whilst tackling the surgical back- log and the needs of service provision will continue for years to follow. What is new? Future training needs to incorporate creative ways of acquiring surgical skills. It is imperative to imbed simulation training into O&G training programmes. Pastoral support is key to ensure trainees’ mental and physical well-being are prioritised and the already high burn-out rates do not worsen.

Background & Objectives: Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) training programmes that traditionally relied on the hands-on apprenticeship-training model, became crippled with the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Web-based anonymised survey was circulated to trainee members of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE) over 8-weeks period commencing June 2021. Results: 213 trainees from 20 countries responded. Trainees from medium Human Development Index (HDI) countries were less represented. 78% (166/213) were in approved training programmes and 81% (174/213) had access to personal PPE. The vaccine uptake was 87% (185/213). 39% (89/213) and 55% (118/213) experienced negative impact on their physical and mental wellbeing with 36% (76/213) COVID-19 related absence. 15% (32/213) were redeployed to areas outside O&G. 25% (53 /213) had negative impact on their obstetric experience compared to 54% (114/213) reported lower gynaecology surgical exposure and 43% (91/213) failed to meet their gynaecology surgical competencies during the pandemic. 64% (137/213) perceived simulation training as an alternative training tool. Conclusion: In the post-pandemic recovery phase, gynaecological societies and national institutes across Europe continue to develop training curricula implementing virtual and hybrid training modules. The aim is to develop a robust blueprint to safeguard the gynaecological surgical training in the future. What is new? The ongoing impact on the training in the post pandemic era remains to be evaluated. Our pan Europe survey highlights areas that remain affected from trainees’ perspective and assesses differences in the healthcare systems across continent. We then discuss the novel initiatives taken to overcome training gaps.